2010 BCS Championship blog: Texas vs. Alabama

I have to pose the question to you guys, though. Had he been healthy...would the outcome have been different? Sad thing is, we'll never know.

The SEC has now won the past four BCS Championships (Alabama, Florida, LSU, Florida).

It was a year of injuries in the Big 12: First, Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham of Oklahoma.

Kendall Hunter of Oklahoma State.

Robert Griffin of Baylor.

Colt McCoy of Texas tonight in the second series of the game.

The Big 12 finished its bowl season at 4-4.

10:55 p.m. update: Alabama 31, Texas 21

Well, that should do it, folks. Mark Ingram bruised ahead for a 1-yard touchdown after Alabama forced a fumble of Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert. Ingram compiled 116 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and will most likely be the MVP of the BCS Championship.

10:48 p.m. update: Alabama 24, Texas 21

Three minutes left. Garrett Gilbert 10 for his last 14. Let's see what the kid has.

10:36 p.m. update: Alabama 24, Texas 21

How about freshman Garrett Gilbert in this second half? This has been a remarkable performance. Another laser beam to Jordan Shipley for a 28-yard touchdown.

I think Alabama's conservative play-calling has let Texas stick around. If I'm a Crimson Tide fan, this is way too close for comfort. Can you imagine if a freshman quarterback comes back and beats the best defense in the country?

What do you guys think.....possible?

10:27 p.m. update: Random observation

Seeing Vince Young on the sidelines in a nice shirt, slacks and sunglasses is hilarious. V.Y., is it sunny outside or something? Must be the bright lights in Pasadena, Calif.

10:24 p.m. update: Alabama 24, Texas 13

Alabama's not doing anything too fancy in the second half. Nick Saban is implementing a conservative, run-oriented game plan, with an intent of making Garrett Gilbert beat him.

In the second half, the Texas defense has responded. After giving up 148 rushing yards in the first half, the Longhorns have only surrendered 12 rushing yards in the second half. It's keeping UT in the game.

10:14 p.m. update: Random observation

Is The Rock really playing a tooth fairy in an upcoming movie entitled....(fittingly) Tooth Fairy? That commercial looked awful. I'd quite honestly rather watch paint dry in a movie theater for three hours instead of putting myself through that torture. I suppose I miss the days of the rock bottom.

10:10 p.m. update: Alabama 24, Texas 13

After a series of screen passes and incompletions, offensive coordinator Greg Davis cut Garrett Gilbert loose and he responded with a 44-yard strike to Jordan Shipley. Texas must continue to find Shipley.

On a crazy sequence, the Longhorns recovered the ensuing onside kick. I love the call by coach Mack Brown. After a quiet third quarter overall, things are really starting to pick up again toward the end of the period.

McCoy injury update

Not too surprising, but Colt McCoy will not return tonight, per sideline reporter Lisa Salters.

What do you guys think the injury is...separated shoulder? It didn't look awful, but this injury has to be really serious for a guy like McCoy not to give it a final go.

9:15 p.m. update

Three first-half observations:

This is a completely different BCS Championship without Colt McCoy. Texas jumped ahead, 6-0, and looked like it would be able to stick with Alabama all night. McCoy's absence has made the Longhorns one-dimensional on offense. Alabama is stacking defenders in the box against an inexperienced freshman quarterback in Garrett Gilbert. The result? 1-10 for negative-4 yards and two interceptions. Ouch.

You have to respect the Alabama running attack. The Crimson Tide racked up 148 rushing yards in the first half and scored 24 unanswered points. Texas began the game nicely with three early sacks of Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, but hasn't been able to stop Mark Ingram or Trent Richardson on the ground. The short fields haven't helped UT, either.

Jordan Shipley needs to somehow get his hands on some passes. The senior receiver made a great double move toward the end of the half and was open for at least a 40-yard gain, but Gilbert threw too far outside.

Texas receivers have to help Gilbert out, too. Malcolm Williams dropped a touchdown pass — granted, it would have been a tough grab — and Dan Buckner dropped a separate short pass.

Alabama doesn't turn the ball over, so I see Texas having a really difficult time getting back into this game, particularly if McCoy can't suit back up.

Halftime update: Alabama 24, Texas 6

Well, there you have it.

That last interception by Garrett Gilbert sealed this game, as far as I see it. You simply cannot afford a pick-six when the idea is to run the clock out. This is not a Texas team that I see being able to play from behind. Not with a true freshman quarterback, at least.

8:27 p.m. update: Alabama 7, Texas 6

Seems like Garrett Gilbert was struggling as he went to the sideline. Will Texas have to resort to its third-string signal caller? The Crimson Tide is bringing the heat to UT quarterbacks tonight.

End of first quarter: Texas 6, Alabama 0

Alabama is on the verge of scoring, as Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram is really starting to find some room. He already has 45 yards rushing.

Texas cannot afford to play from behind with Colt McCoy out of the game.

8:10 p.m. update: Texas 6, Alabama 0

Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is orchestrating a brilliant scheme for the Longhorns, who have piled up three sacks on Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy already. McElroy was visibly frustrated on one of the sacks, shouting at his linemen in a plea for better protection.

It looks like Colt McCoy is going to the locker room for X-rays. Not good for UT. Freshman Garrett Gilbert, welcome to the show.

7:55 p.m. update: Texas 3, Alabama 0

What was up with that Nick Saban fake punt call? That came out of nowhere. Very un-Saban-like. Texas really could have used 7 there, but settled for a field goal.

The big question is the status of quarterback Colt McCoy, who appeared to have injured his right, throwing shoulder on a draw. This would be catastrophic for UT if McCoy can't return. I really hope he gets back out there. Both teams deserve to be at full strength, and it just wouldn't be nearly as interesting.

Just as I'm typing this, Texas recovers the ensuing kickoff. Incredible. For all the hype about Alabama's special teams, the Longhorns are really taking control of that aspect of the game.

Thursday: 7 p.m. update

It's about that time. Should have kickoff at 7:38 p.m. I voiced my prediction in the video below. I'm going out on a bit of a limb tonight, my friends:

Texas 23, Alabama 20.

Is it me, or does Mack Brown remind you of one of your favorite relatives? I don't know, maybe an uncle or something, but the guy seems so nice and that interview with Lisa Salters just reminded me of that. And it's not just on television.

I ran into Brown this summer in Irving, Texas at Big 12 Media Days. No one else was around and I just said hello and asked how his day was going. He was incredibly friendly, even asking my name and where I was visiting from. When I mentioned the Lawrence Journal-World, he had some complimentary things to say about the Kansas football team.

Lou Holtz picked Texas. Mark May looked at him awkwardly for a long time as if he was crazy and picked Alabama. Desmond Howard went with the Crimson Tide. In his fabled head gear segment, Lee Corso put on Bevo gear and picked Texas. I'm a bit surprised so many ESPN analysts are picking Texas.

I'm ready to get this thing going.

Thursday: 4:50 p.m. update

Earlier today, I listed a trend that could work toward the favor of No. 2 Texas in tonight's BCS Championship.

There's also quite a bit of recent history working against the Longhorns. That is, the dominance of the SEC lately in BCS Championships.

Florida in 2009. LSU in 2008. Florida in 2007.

Another unpleasant streak working against Texas: The last two bowl seasons, the SEC is 4-0 against the Big 12 in the postseason.

Maybe the Longhorns have something up their sleeve tonight. Of course, the last time Texas played in the BCS Championship, we all remember the result:

Seems like a pretty good night to watch some TV. In Lawrence, the high today is 8 degrees. Friday's high is 2. I feel like a couch bum, but what the heck is there to do in this stuff? Sledding? I don't think so.

Anyways, about seven hours and change until kickoff. I'm not much into odd trends, but this one is really interesting.

In six of the past seven years, No. 2 has taken down No. 1 in the BCS Championship.

Be back later this afternoon for more updates. In the meantime, keep the predictions coming.

Original post: Wednesday night

Close call against Cornell tonight, but undefeated is undefeated. At the very least, it was an exciting college basketball game to watch.

In college football land, we're one day away from the BCS Championship game between No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Texas.

I'll be updating this blog Thursday before the 7 p.m. kickoff at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. There will be live updates during the game as well, so feel free to join in the discussion during tomorrow's game.

For now, here's my take on the BCS Championship game in the latest episode of ConferenceChatterTV:

Comments

the conference chamrionship game has focused the longhorns they have already seen the best defense. texas' defense isn't all that bad either, i think they will hold alabama to just fieldgoals, horns win 28-9 c'mon big 12 the s.e.c. is not worth the s*** we scrape off our shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tide will win this game..Why?..Texas hasn't shown they can run the ball and they will need that to win this game...Colt will have 2 picks (one for six) tonite trying to force the ball because they can't move the ball on the ground against the tide defense...The tide will control the clock and the ball for the whole game...I would like to see the Longhorns win for the conference but I don't see it happening...Tide-24 Horns-13

a true KU fan would understand that you have to root for the big12 (exception misery) to win games, specially the national championship game. There are many reasons for this but I leave you to figure them out.

If you follow UGA hoops at all, their new coach, Mark Fox, is a Kansas native. I grew up with him in Garden City. He coached my little brother's little league hoops team back in the 80s. Small world huh?

NH, you're exactly right, haha. It's ridiculous here. I shoveled snow today in my driveway in shifts. Couldn't do it all in one outing. My only excuse is I'm from Dallas. I hate this weather! Your high of 38 sounds awesome. I envy it. Enjoy the game tonight and thanks for commenting.

Eric — Mack Brown is delightful. After the KU-UT game, I knew I had to ask him about Mangino's tough circumstance, and he gave a great answer even though he admitted that he didn't know Mangino that well.

I thought it could go either way until the interception. Texas is definitely at a disadvantage with McCoy out and Mark Ingram on fire, but that interception when the longhorns were so close to scoring was brutal.

i don't know if it's that garrett gilbert is unpolished as much as he's simply inexperienced. The guy's a five-star Rivals recruit and surely has potential, but asking him as a freshman to win this game for UT isn't gonna happen.

You're right, jayhawkinatl, you'd think that a team like UT would have Gilbert in "fighting shape" for this game instead of how he's looking. Though other members of the offensive line aren't looking too great either. There were some missed passes that were wide open. 6-17 going into the half is not good.

Husker- Gilbert has been put in a tough spot and I commend him for it. But did you see Landry Jones this season? I'm just saying.
Not that OU would beat Alabama in a match up like this, but Jones did have a lot more experience on the field this year than Gilbert.

And it's not just on Gilbert, it's on the whole team. There were some huge misses in the first half that should not have been misses.

Sorry, Husker, I mis-read your comment. Had Bradford not been injured in the first game, this would have been a completely different season. He definitely could have matched McCoy, if not surpassed him.

By my count, you were 6-5-1, and I was 7-4-1 (I called Hawkins/Hansen a push; Hansen played in more games but Hawkins had more pass attempts).

Still, there was some fluky stuff in there. Bradford and Gresham going down hurt the Sooners' chances at getting 10 wins. Hunter and Bryant both being on the sideline for their respective reasons made that one weird (Hunter won, gaining 382 rushing yards, while Bryant had 323 receiving yards). Taylor Potts getting hurt/benched affected his TD totals. Griffin getting hurt killed his chances at getting 1,000 rushing yards.

All in all, a tough year to be an elite player in the Big 12, as nearly every one of them went down with an injury (which followed through with McCoy tonight).

jayhawksrule, thanks for joining the conversation. We've been covering the Big 12 on this Web site for the past two years since I've been here. I'd like to think that most Jayhawk fans are watching the BCS title game tonight.

One of my favorite aspects of big games is the crazy what-ifs that fans tend to spout many days, months, and decades down the road. (Jo-Jo's foot was in bounds, right?)

So, are Texas fans going to bark that a healthy Colt McCoy would have led them to victory?

I really hope I get to see a Longhorn and a Crimson Tide fan drunk and screaming at each other in some bar this year. If you're there too, I'll be close by, measuring valid points and which accent is worse, Texas or southern.

You don't give a coach a $2 million dollar raise before (before) {before} the national championship game...

This is not a "bonus"....

I repeat, this is $2 million extra (extra) {extra} per year UT just threw into the toilet for the next five years....

Lesson for all of us to take home: in any business, never give a huge (like double salary) raise that forces you into a long term bind before a big huge important production. Especially when it's nationally televised. If you lose, you really look stupid (& you're trapped for five years).

If nothing else, it really wreaks of bad karma -- what else can you do to make Mack Brown feel "even more nervous" 3 weeks before the game when you just gave him a $2 million dollar per year raise!!!!

What else could you be saying?

Don't lose this one, Coach...

Or....

Don't lose any recruits while you prepare for this game.

Or...

Please stay here!!! (we don't care if you win or lose!!!)

Summation: why not give Mack Brown a raise after (after) {after} he would have won the national championship?

I repeat -- why not?

Or why not just make it a bonus for crying out loud!!!!

In short UT just frittered away $10 million bucks (2x5) Mack Brown wasn't even planning on getting!!!!

Many different outcomes could have occured in this game if McCoy hadn't been hurt in the first play. He could have been hurt anywhere else in the game, just as McElroy could have been hurt.
But what's happened has happened. McCoy got hurt (I would be horribly worried about a pinched nerve in that shoulder) and as good as an effort as Gilbert put in as QB, it wasn't enough to roll the Crimson Tide. I give Gilbert a lot of credit for leading the team to within 3 points in the 4th quarter.

All I know is that I'm glad I'm not an Alabama fan, I mean how can you get excited after an undeserved win like that. They made so many mistakes and the only thing they had going for them was Ingram. If it wasn't for the cheap shot on McCoy and terrible officiating it should have been a Texas blowout.

Obviously Alabama could have scored more in the second half as needed. They employed an ultra conservative offensive stategy until Texas scored and when the game got close, then they opened up their offense and scored again. It's called "knowing how to win".
It wouldn't have mattered if McCoy played. Alabama was going to do whatever it took to win this one.
GO SEC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take a look at the list of national champions for the past eight years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!